When following your passion is a risk worth taking!

This month we are proud to feature Susanne, a lawyer turned fashion blogger who believes that risks worth taking are the ones we have passion and ambition for. She is not afraid of change and inspires us to follow a different path, because some of the best things in life happen when we push ourselves to visit the unknown.

Tell us about yourself?

I am a Dutch girl who is living the Californian dream in San Francisco. Eleven months ago we moved from Amsterdam to the Bay Area and we are moving to Houston in a few weeks. I am happily married to a loving lawyer who brings new adventures in my life every day. I am very passionate about fashion, travel and a real family girl.

How would you describe your experience moving from Amsterdam to San Francisco?

A M A Z I N G. The time that we spent here, from the beginning until now, has been absolutely great. The people have been very welcoming, friendly and outgoing. We took every opportunity to travel through California and we barely ate at home because we had to try each of the wonderful restaurants in San Francisco.

What inspired you to choose your career and what continues to drive you?

It has been quite a journey to be honest, since I started my career as a corporate lawyer. However, I believe that the most important thing to do is to follow your passion and ambition. Because of this I started my fashion and travel blog, Bag at You, I am getting out of bed with a big smile at 6 am every morning to work on my blog.

When did you realize that you wanted to create your own fashion blog and follow your passion?

I thought I figured it all out. I graduated from law school and worked as a lawyer at a big international law firm in Amsterdam. I realized I wasn’t happy so I decided to pursue my dreams by following my passion which was bags. Therefore, I started my own blog, Bag at You, which has brought me so much already. I constantly have to get out of my comfort zone and push boundaries. I love everything about it!

How would you encourage others to take a risk?

Someone once said to me: "You can better regret the things you did do, than the things you didn’t do" - I always take that into account when I have to take a risk. It goes without saying that it has to make sense to do it in terms of finance, timing and safety, but you don’t want to not do something right now just because of anxiety; then you will really regret it in 10 years.

What does being a woman in control mean to you?

A woman in control is happy. She gets up every morning and is excited for a new day, to develop herself, learn new skills and meet new people. She smiles, is kind and caring. She is not afraid to face things that make her insecure and she is proud to make choices that will help the people she loves.

"I believe that the most important thing to do is to follow your passion and ambition".

If you could say one thing to a young girl encouraging her to be a woman in control, what would you say?

Let’s do it! Don’t be afraid to fall, you will stand up being stronger and wiser. Be kind. Be smart. Listen to people and learn. But then, you have to choose your own path. Invest in relationships - friendships, love and work - as those will improve your quality of life. Don’t be afraid to say sorry and be strong: life is a journey and only you can turn it into a party. And… don’t forget to smile!

Everything about LIA LARREA breathes passion for fashion, the materials, the design and her customers. These pieces made me feel strong, beautiful and confident to pursue my dreams, just like the designer herself. I love how you can mix and match each of the garments and wear these pieces both day and night. They are versatile, reversible and unique, which makes it perfect for any woman with any lifestyle.